One other California neighborhood is elevating issues about plans to unleash the Waymo self-driving car in its jurisdiction, following a number of incidents involving autonomous ride-hailing automobiles that resulted in accidents.
San Mateo County, within the San Francisco Bay Space, has requested extra data from state regulators earlier than permitting Google-owned Waymo to function its driverless autos within the county.
San Mateo County made the request after Waymo submitted a letter Jan. 19 to the California Public Utilities Fee, asking the company to approve its proposed enlargement of its Automated Automobile Passenger Companies into parts of the San Francisco Peninsula, which incorporates San Mateo County, in addition to the southwest area of Los Angeles County.
The corporate has already been serving a portion of San Francisco, from Lands Finish to Bernal Heights. The autonomous automotive started providing rides for a restricted time in November in Santa Monica, Century Metropolis, West Hollywood, Mid-Metropolis Koreatwon and downtown L.A., giving residents an opportunity at testing the driverless experience.
Waymo obtained approval on its plans to broaden the place it might present its passenger service service from the California Division of Motor Automobiles simply days earlier than.
San Mateo County’s lawyer John D. Nibbelin stated the county is protesting the fee’s pending approval, saying the county didn’t have sufficient data on the enlargement plans or sufficient engagement with Waymo.
“The ‘fast and simplified’ recommendation letter evaluate course of, which is meant for ‘requests which might be anticipated neither to be controversial nor to lift vital coverage questions,’ is inadequate to develop the proof vital to totally perceive the potential impacts and points Waymo’s enlargement into San Mateo County will create, together with accounting for the differing wants and hurdles Waymo will face working in San Mateo County, as in comparison with Metropolis and County of San Francisco,” Nibbelin’s letter to the fee acknowledged.
San Mateo County Officers and different communities say they need a say within the regulation of driverless automotive firm operations.
In a Feb. 13 county board of supervisor assembly, the board authorized a decision in assist of Senate Invoice 915, which might grant native governments the authority to allow or prohibit the usage of driverless automobiles inside their jurisdiction.
Waymo representatives met with some members of the San Mateo County Board of supervisors and county govt officer Mike Callagy, stated Michelle Durand, the county’s chief communications officer.
“The conversations have been pretty basic, however Waymo didn’t present any specifics of their operation plans in San Mateo County, saying that these are nonetheless in improvement,” Durand stated.
Waymo spokesperson Julia Illiana stated that forward of the corporate’s software to broaden its service space, it reached out to stakeholders together with county officers, native first responders, cities, bike coalitions and others.
“Our briefings included data on Waymo’s mission, expertise and the way our know-how works,” Illina stated.
“Moreover we have been clear with stakeholders about our curiosity in increasing Waymo’s business ride-hailing service for members of the general public to incorporate Peninsula cities.”
Presently, native jurisdictions haven’t any say within the business deployment of autonomous autos.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass stated her metropolis ought to have a say in how such autos are regulated and requested state regulators in November to extend their scrutiny of firms that function autonomous autos. In August, a Waymo automotive didn’t initially cease for a visitors officer who had been signaling east- and westbound visitors to come back to a cease at Beaudry Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. No accidents have been reported in that incident.
On Feb. 7, a bicycle owner was injured in San Francisco by a Waymo car. SFGate reported that the car stopped at a four-way intersection earlier than continuing; a big truck was driving by way of in the wrong way. A bicycle owner was close to the truck and crossing into the Waymo car’s path. When the bicycle owner grew to become seen, the Waymo car utilized its brakes however was not in a position to keep away from the collision. The bicycle owner had non-life-threatening accidents.
